{{short description|English video game designer and developer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Use British English|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Mike Bithell | image = Mike bithell GDC Europe 2013 cropped.jpg | alt = | caption = Bithell at [[GDC Europe]], 2013 | birth_name = Michael Bithell<ref>{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/NTdYxNnvc_YCXFMnhhTpHywy2nY/appointments|title=Michael BITHELL|publisher=[[Companies House]]}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1985|11|07}}<ref>{{cite tweet|user=mikeBithell|last=Bithell|first=Mike|number=1457298127761903623|title=Oh shit I'm 36}}</ref> | birth_place = | other_names = | occupation = [[Video game developer]] | years_active = 2010–present | known_for = ''[[Thomas Was Alone]]'', ''[[Volume (video game)|Volume]]'', ''Play, Watch, Listen'' | notable_works = | website = {{URL|https://www.bithellgames.com}} | module = {{Listen voice|filename=Mike Bithell voice - Meat Party Interviews Mike Bithell - 2013-06-06.ogg|title=Mike Bithell talking about ''Thomas Was Alone''|published=June 2013}} }} '''Michael Bithell''' is an English [[video game designer]], [[Video game developer|developer]], and [[podcaster]] best known for his work on ''[[Thomas Was Alone]]'' and ''[[Volume (video game)|Volume]]''. He is a regular host of the ''Play, Watch, Listen'' podcast, along with [[Alanah Pearce]], [[Troy Baker]], and [[Austin Wintory]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://playwatchlisten.libsyn.com | title = Play, Watch, Listen | date = 2019-12-20 | accessdate = 2022-01-15 }}</ref> He also co-hosts an evolving pop culture podcast with long time friend, British YouTuber and comedic author [[Daniel Hardcastle]], talking about shows and movies like [[Star Trek]], [[Fast & Furious|Fast and Furious]], [[Mission: Impossible (film series)|Mission Impossible]] and various others.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-04 |title=Impossible New Worlds on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/impossible-new-worlds/id1672881866 |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Career== Bithell credits his high school history teacher for helping him to get into games programming: when their class was given an essay assignment, Bithell asked instead if he could make a point-and-click adventure game about the topic in lieu of an essay. The teacher was impressed with the work and allowed Bithell to continue to present games instead of essays for the class.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamesn.com/thomas-was-alone/thomas-was-alone-mike-bithell | title = Mike Bithell explains how his history teacher made Thomas Was Alone possible | first= Dustin | last =Bailey | date = 2019-01-03 | accessdate = 2019-01-04 | work = [[PCGamesN]] }}</ref>
Bithell [[Independent video game development|independently]] developed an early version of the ''[[Thomas Was Alone]]'' video game in 2010 while working for [[Blitz Games]], where he was a junior designer, and later a [[Level design|level]] [[Game design|designer]] on games such as ''[[Tak and the Guardians of Gross]]'', ''[[Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao]]'', ''[[iCarly (video game)|iCarly]]'' and ''[[Dead to Rights: Retribution]]'', from 2007 to 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chapple |first=Craig |url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/mike-bithell-leaves-bossa-studios/0113956 |title=Mike Bithell leaves Bossa Studios |work=[[Develop (UK magazine)|Develop]] |date=2013-02-04 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref><ref name="polygon">{{cite web|first=Emily |last=Gera |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/4/3949906/thomas-was-alone-creator-mike-bithell-leaves-bossa-studios-to-begin |title=''Thomas Was Alone'' creator Mike Bithell leaves Bossa Studios to begin new projects |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=2013-02-04 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref> He developed the prototype game in 24 hours and released it for free online through the [[Kongregate]] website, receiving 100,000 'plays' in the first week.<ref name="ew">{{cite web|last=Rivera |first=Joshua |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2014/12/03/mike-bithell-volume-game |title=Meet Mike Bithell, the man who's reinventing Robin Hood |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=2015-01-18 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref> He joined [[Bossa Studios]] in February 2011, working to expand the [[Adobe Flash|flash]]-based ''Thomas'' to a full title and learning how to use the [[Unity engine]] in his time there.<ref name="gamesindustry">{{cite web|first=Rachel |last=Weber |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-02-04-bithell-leaves-bossa |title=Bithell leaves Bossa to go it alone |work=[[GamesIndustry]] |date=2013-02-04 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref> The full game was released on 30 June 2012 and went on to sell over a million copies, winning a [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] at the [[9th British Academy Games Awards]] in the "Best Performer" category (for narrator [[Danny Wallace (humourist)|Danny Wallace]]) and receiving a further two nominations ("Best Original Music" and "Best Story").<ref name="ew"/><ref name="theverge">{{cite web|last=Webster |first=Andrew |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/26/8294765/indie-game-one-hit-wonder-minecraft-threes |title=After a hit game, indie developers struggle to replicate success |work=[[The Verge]] |date=2015-03-26 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Martin |first=Liam |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a458149/journey-dominates-bafta-video-game-awards-2013-nominations.html |title=''Journey'' dominates BAFTA Video Game Awards 2013 nominations |publisher=[[Digital Spy]] |date=2013-02-12 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Nichols |first=Scott |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a463537/journey-dishonored-dominate-bafta-video-game-awards-2013.html |title=''Journey'', ''Dishonored'' dominate BAFTA Video Game Awards 2013 |publisher=[[Digital Spy]] |date=2013-03-05 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref> He left Bossa in January 2013 to "concentrate on [[Independent video game development|indie development]]".<ref name="polygon"/><ref name="gamesindustry"/> He has since worked on a [[Robin Hood]]-based [[stealth game]] named ''[[Volume (video game)|Volume]]'', which was released on 18 August 2015 for Windows, OS X, and PlayStation 4 and Vita platforms.<ref name="forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnyegriffiths/2014/06/08/with-1m-sales-for-thomas-was-alone-bithell-launches-volume-trailer-ahead-of-e3 |title=With 1m Sales For ''Thomas Was Alone'', Mike Bithell Launches ''Volume'' Trailer Ahead of E3 |work=[[Forbes]] |date=2014-08-06 |accessdate=2015-04-14 |first=Daniel Nye |last=Griffiths}}</ref> In 2016, Bithell released ''EarthShape'', a [[virtual reality game]] for [[Google Daydream]]. Bithell collaborated with composer [[Russell Shaw (composer)|Russell Shaw]] and animator Tim Borelli on the project. The game featured voice acting from British comedian [[Sue Perkins]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/04/sue-perkins-daydream-vr-game-bithell-earthshape/ | title='Great British Bake Off' host stars in a Daydream VR game | work=[[Engadget]] | first=Jessica | last=Conditt | date=2016-10-04 | accessdate=2017-08-17}}</ref> In August 2017, Bithell released a new game ''[[Subsurface Circular]]'', a first of what he calls "Bithell Shorts" that are designed as short, narrative focused games.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-08-17-thomas-was-alone-devs-new-game-is-a-modern-take-on-the-text-adventure | title = Thomas Was Alone dev's new game is a modern take on the text adventure | first = Wesley | last = Yin-Poole | date = 2017-08-17 | accessdate = 2017-08-17 | work = [[Eurogamer]]}}</ref> In May 2018, Bithell released another short titled ''[[Quarantine Circular]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-05-22-mike-bithell-follows-up-subsurface-circular-with-quarantine-circular | title=Mike Bithell follows up Subsurface Circular with Quarantine Circular | work=[[Eurogamer]] | first=Wesley | last=Yin-Poole | date=2018-05-22 | accessdate=2018-05-22}}</ref>
Bithell is the lead developer behind ''[[John Wick Hex]]'', a video game based on the ''[[John Wick]]'' film series.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamesn.com/john-wick-hex-epic | title = John Wick Hex is an official strategy game heading to the Epic store | first = Chris | last = Capel | date = May 8, 2019 | accessdate = May 8, 2019 | work = [[PCGamesN]] }}</ref>
Bithell has gained significant notability in the [[video game industry]] due both to the unexpected success of ''Thomas'' and also for his views on the current industry as a whole.<ref name="theverge"/><ref name="forbes"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2015/03/20/interview-mike-bithell-on-volume-a-fear-of-failure-our-virtual-reality-future/ |title=Interview: Mike Bithell On ''Volume'', A Fear Of Failure & Our Virtual Reality Future |publisher=TheSixthAxis |date=2015-03-20 |accessdate=2015-04-14 |author=Stefan L}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-03-23-mike-bithells-golden-rules-for-media |first=Mike |last=Bithell |title=Mike Bithell's golden rules for media |work=[[GamesIndustry]] |date=2015-03-23 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Zoe |last=Hawkins |url=http://www.lazygamer.net/general-news/cadence-launches-noodle-starter-and-mike-bithell-tells-indies-how-to-deal-with-the-press/ |title=Cadence launches Noodle Starter and Mike Bithell tells indies how to deal with the press |work=Lazygamer |date=2015-03-26 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref> He has outlined the problems for fellow indie developers producing [[mobile games]], commenting on the suitability of [[free-to-play]] mechanics for indie gaming and other issues.<ref name="forbes"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2014/07/17/mike-bithell-changing-face-indie |title=Mike Bithell on Why Indie Isn't Indie Anymore |work=[[Kotaku]] |first=Leon |last=Hurley |date=2014-07-17 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Russell |last=Clarke |url=http://www.pocketgamer.biz/interview/59063/mike-bithell-indies-stay-off-mobile-until-youve-built-a-name-for-yourself/ |title=Mike Bithell: Indies, stay off of mobile until you've "built a name for yourself" |work=[[Pocket Gamer]] |date=2014-05-15 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref>
Following release of ''[[Tron: Catalyst]]'' in 2025, Bithell had to let go of eleven, most of his full-time staff, at Bithell Games due to failing to secure funding for a follow-on project.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/tron-catalyst-developer-bithell-games-makes-majority-of-its-full-time-staff-redundant-after-failing-to-secure-new-project | title = Tron: Catalyst Developer Bithell Games Makes 'Majority' of Its Full-Time Staff Redundant After Failing to Secure New Project | first = Tom | last = Phillips | date = August 8, 2025 | accessdate = August 9, 2025 | work = [[IGN]] }}</ref>
==Games== * ''[[Thomas Was Alone]]'' - 2012, self-published * ''[[Volume (video game)|Volume]]'' - 2015, Bithell Games * ''[[Subsurface Circular]]'' - 2017, Bithell Shorts * ''[[Quarantine Circular]]'' - 2018, Bithell Shorts * ''[[John Wick Hex]]'' - 2019, Bithell Games / [[Good Shepherd Entertainment]] * ''[[The Solitaire Conspiracy]]'' - 2020, Bithell Games<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-09-22-the-solitaire-conspiracy-is-a-mix-of-cards-and-espionage | title = The Solitaire Conspiracy is a mix of cards and espionage | first = Tom | last = Phillips | date = 22 September 2020 | accessdate = 22 September 2020 | work = [[Eurogamer]] }}</ref> * ''Arcsmith'' - 2021, Bithell Games * ''[[Tron: Identity]]'' - 2023, Bithell Games * ''[[Tron: Catalyst]]'' - 2025, Bithell Games / Big Fan Games
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Official website|http://www.mikebithellgames.com}} * {{moby developer|id=416791|name=Mike Bithell}}
{{Bithell}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bithell, Mike}} [[Category:1985 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:English computer programmers]] [[Category:English video game designers]] [[Category:British video game programmers]]